Monday, November 06, 2006

Rumored

Has anyone heard that something very serious happened in town this evening? I’m hearing word of a murder, but have no confirmation yet on that. I’ll try to track down some more information. I’ll update this post as more information comes in.

Update: There was a seventeen year old man shot in the face sometime around 5:30 this evening. There is the possibility of drugs being involved somehow. The victim was being transported for LifeFlight, but may have been pronounced DOA.

Update 2: It seems that it was an eighteen year old. The bullet entered under the right eye and exited behind the left ear. There is an ongoing question about whether the young man was murdered or accidentally shot. There are two Windham cruisers, two Garrettsville cruisers, two unmarked cars (likely detectives), and one county and one K-9 unit at the scene. One young man has been taken for questioning.

Update 3: Latest word is that there were a few kids drinking in one of the apartments in 9145 Maple Grove. One of the boys was screwing around with a gun, wasn’t paying attention, and it went off. They had planned on blaming it on suicide, but one of the people there broke down and told the truth.

Update 4 (per comment by G.R.I.T.S.): Fisher was charged with reckless homicide for the death of Frazier.

Brandon Fisher, 20, of 531 Coolman Ave., was arrested and charged with reckless homicide, a third-degree felony, in connection with the shooting.

Fisher was arraigned Tuesday in Portage County Municipal Court in Ravenna, where Judge Barbara Oswick set bond at $500,000 cash. A preliminary hearing has been set for Friday in the same courtroom.

According to Portage County Sheriff Duane Kaley, a 911 call was received around 5:30 p.m. regarding a shooting at 9145 Maple Grove Road, Apt. C. The call was transferred to Windham police, who requested assistance from the Portage County Sheriff's Office, Kaley said.

Kaley said officers found Frazier had been shot in the head, and he was transported by the Windham Fire Department to Robinson Memorial. He was pronounced dead at the hospital, Kaley said.

In addition to the charge of reckless homicide, Kaley said Fisher also could be facing additional charges of tampering with evidence for allegedly attempting to hide the gun, a .22 caliber semiautomatic rifle, used in the shooting.

Both Kaley and Portage County Prosecutor Victor Vigluicci declined to elaborate on the circumstances of the shooting.

"All I can say right now is that this individual apparently pointed the firearm at two other individuals, then pointed it at the victim, at which time the weapon discharged," Kaley said.

Kaley would not comment on whether the shooting was accidental.

The rifle was taken from the scene, along with other items Kaley said were being considered as evidence.

Kaley said the sheriff's office is working with the Windham Police Department and its acting chief, Dale Korman, during the investigation.